Smith, John J.

SMITH, DELL, CURRENT, BEAMAN, NASON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 2/14/2003 at 15:48:36

JOHN J. SMITH. 

Accounted one of the enterprising and progressive agriculturists of Clinton county, John J. Smith well deserves representation in this volume. He was born in York, Illinois, April 13, 1856, and is a son of Ithamer Smith, whose history precedes this record. Coming with his parents to Clinton county in his childhood, he attended the common schools of Bloomfield township, pursuing his studies until twenty years of age, when he put aside his text books, and gave his entire time to assisting his father in the work of the home farm. Practical experience well qualified him for his duties in the fields and made his labors profitable.

On the 4th of January, 1876, in Maquoketa, Iowa, Mr. Smith was joined in wedlock to Miss Eliza M. Dell, who was born in Canada September 17, 1857, a daughter of Sullivan and Elizabeth (Current) Dell, both of whom were natives of Canada. Their marriage was celebrated in the British province, and in 1868 they came to the United States, locating near Maquoketa, Jackson county, Iowa, where the father rented a farm which he cultivated for about eight years. He then removed his family to the town while he went to Nebraska, returning after a year. He was then engaged in the hotel business in Maquoketa for about two years, after which he operated a rented farm east of the city for three years. On the expiration of that period he removed his family to Maquoketa and he then went to the Black Hills, remaining for a year, after which he spent four years in Maquoketa, going thence to Delmar. He located upon Mr. Smith's fruit farm, which he is now managing. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dell have been born four children: Stella, who died at the age of seventeen years; Mrs. Smith; Freeman, a farmer of Maquoketa, who married Jewel Beaman and has one child; and Phebe, wife of Edward Nason, who is interested in mining in Denver, Colorado.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Smith has been blessed with one child, Nellie M., who was born in Bloomfield township, November 6, 1886. They have a pleasant home in the township and Mr. Smith devotes his energies to agricultural pursuit, which he follows along progressive lines, his labors returning to him good harvests which bring him a comfortable income. He is a member of Monitor Lodge, No. 330, Free and Accepted Masons, of Delmar; Eastern Star Lodge, No. 210; the Camp of Modern Woodmen, No. 219; and the Camp of the Brotherhood of America, No. 119, all at Delmar. In his political views he is a Republican and has acceptably served as justice of the peace, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial. He has been school director and president of the school board and has labored earnestly to secure good schools and competent teachers. He holds membership with the Methodist church, was for two years one of its trustees and is now serving on that board. He supports in helpful manner the various movements which tend to benefit the community along material, social, intellectual and moral lines.
 Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.